Apparatus for making slide fasteners



NOV. 4, 1941. KOPPEL 2,261,552

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SLI IDE FASTENERS Filed June 30, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 65 I ITiiiilllllllllllllllIIllIllllllllllllllllllllll! III BY I A 7 ATTORN EYi Nov. 4, 1941. KOPPEL APPARATUS FOR MAKING SLIDE FASTENERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 50-, 1959 ll 5 a m mm \IE winmuuI-Q 5 IIIIIIII I 42 \ZI/ J6 4 $16 :2 INVENT OR I ATTORNEY.

2 I A 1 v l wk c m m 6 6 L2 M M Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING SLIDE FASTENERS Leon Koppel, London, England Application June so, 1939, Serial No. 282,214

12 Claims.

the tape at pre-determined closely spaced positions. Clamping means are provided to successively clamp the elements onto the tape as they are positioned thereon.

In view of the relatively small size of the fastener elements and the requirement of their being accurately spaced on and rigidly fastened to the tape for satisfactory fastener action,

much difiiculty was encountered in the prior art in attempting to manufacture the slide fasteners at high speeds. The present invention provides a novel trigger mechanism for gripping the fastener elements and pressing them in proper position onto the tape for clamping. The trigger mechanism is capable of high speed operation, cooperating with the clamping means for greatly increasing the production rate of the slid fasteners as compared to prior methods.

Another important featur of the invention resides in novel means for accurately controlling the length of the slide fasteners made on a continuous tape, providing successive blank regions therealong at proper predetermined spacings. Said means comprises a cam element con-trolling the functioning of the trigger mechanism. The

machine is capable of variation as to the length of the processed fastener. which is determined by the width and position of the blank regions thereon.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide novel apparatus for high speed fastener element application to a continuously moving tape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel positive trigger mechanism for individually positioning fastener elements on a tape.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener element positioning device operable at high speeds and novel means to control the operation thereof for accurately determining the processed lengths on a continuous tape.

These and other advantages, capabilities and features of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the fastener clamping and trigger feed mechanism.

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof, showing the arrangement for controlling the processed lengths on th tape.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the trigger mechanism as seen along 3-3 in Figure 1.

Figur 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the enlarged trigger mechanism taken along 44 in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the processed strip length control device as taken along 5--5 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 respectively plan and elevationalview of a preferred construction, show the mechanism of the present invention mounted upon a fram In housing the necessary drive means and gearing for the system. Toothed clamping wheels II and [2 are arranged in a horizontal plane and are individually driven in synchronism at a predetermined speed by means enclosed in housing l0 and understood by those skilled in the art. The

toothed wheels II-l2 ar rotated in Opposite directions without meshing, whereby the respective opposing teeth2I-22 thereof define pockets of common length but gradually decreasing width as the teeth approach their closes-t proximity at a zone formed at the plane passing between and through the axes of the toothed wheels. The fastener elements or scoops l5 are fed to straddle the tape 20 within a pocket being defined as the opposing teeth of the wheels approach/one another at a fastener element feed station in advance of the zone aforesaid, so that as the pocket being defined approaches and attains its smallest width at th zone aforesaid,

- the Walls between the sets of opposing teeth defining the pocket progressively press against the jaws of the fastener element straddling the tape to firmly clamp the same to the tape in the required spaced relationship.

The pitch or spacing between the respective pockets and defined by the length of the teeth is equal to the requisite spacing between the respective fastener elements l5 being clamped onto th tape. The tapeis drawn from a feed roll at the front of the machine through a guide by and between the opposing teeth of the clamping wheels II and I2 as they attain their closest proximity at the center plan zone through the axes of the respective wheels, the tape 20 being guided in a vertical plane perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the wheels ll-l2. It i to be understood that different orientations for clamping wheels ll--|2 and tape 20 from that shown are feasible, particularly in view of the positive fastener element feeding and positioning features of this invention.

Fastener elements l5 are supplied to the tape in a chute or magazine 25, arranged in the proper direction for straddling tape when impelled thereto. Enlarged view Figure 3 shows elements 15 in cross-section arranged in chute for feeding onto vertical tape 20. A trigger or hammer element is provided for positive impelling of elements l5 onto tape 20. Trigger 30 has a finger 3| designed to move between adjacent elements l5 in the magazine and force the lowermost one He onto tape 20. In the preferred structure trigger finger 3! is moved horizontally until it is between the lowermost fastener element 15a and the one resting on top of it, as shown in the dotted position 31a in Figures 3 and 4. As soon as finger -3| is at position 31a means are provided to impel it in a direction towards tape 20. Sta to 3lb as indicated in Figure 3 impelling fastener element l5a onto tape 20 in a straddled relation thereon preparatory for clamping by toothed wheels |ll2. Tape 20 has a bead 33 onto which elements l5 are placed for clamping, said tape being guided in vertical guide channel 34 and the bead thereof by grooves 35 in the toothed wheels I ll 2.

The trigger 30 is accordingly moved towards magazine 25 and after reaching the lowest fastener element 15a in the chute impels the same downwardly in straddling position onto the tape 20. The movement of the trigger is synchronized with that of the clamping wheels ll-l2 so that a fastener element being disposed in straddling relationship by virtue of its gravity movement in the chute on the upper surfaces of opposing teeth of the wheels at the feeding station, and resting thereon as the wheels rotate until a pocket formation is developed under the feeding station by and between the opposing teeth on the surface of which the fastener element rests and the next adjacent set of oppos ing teeth, is impelled by the trigger in straddling relationship onto the tape present in the pocket being thus defined. The trigger is withdrawn immediately thereafter and as it moves forward towards the magazine to act on the next following fastener element in the chute, such fastener element has in the meantime dropped onto the upper surfaces of the next adjacent set of opposing teeth above referred to.

In this case finger 3| moves from Trigger 30 is a plate member pivoted on screw 3G to slide bar 44 supported in upright 31. A spring 38 has one end 39 attached to upright 31, and its other end 40 to the trigger plate 30.

Trigger 3!] is accordingly normally spring biased upwardly against roller 4 I. ger 34 coacting with roller 4| is designed to permit trigger 30 to move in a horizontal direction until finger 3| reaches position 3la in magazine 25 and then move trigger 30 downwardly. A compound cam-like coacting surface having a stepped section 42 imparts this action on trigger 30 as it is moved towards magazine 25 as will now be evident.

Slide bar 44 attached to trigger 30 is reciprocated towards and from magazine 25 in the following manner: a single toothed unit 45, secured with slide member 44 has a tooth 46 arranged to coact with toothed gear member 50. Gear 50 is uniformly provided with teeth 41 adapted to successively engage with single tooth 46 of unit 45. A spring 48 is attached between unit 45 and stationary upright 31 on rear bolt 49. Spring The surface of trig;

48 accordingly biases slide member 44 to its return position after being moved towards magazine 25.

The coacting portions of teeth 41 and tooth 46 are preferably flat as shown. As gear 50 rotates in the counterclockwise direction it moves coacting tooth 46 to the right towards magazine 25. Slide bar 44 is accordingly impelled in that direction carrying with it trigger 34. Trigger 30 rides horizontally until finger 3| is at Ma above bottom fastener element l5a. Step 42 on the cam surface of trigger 3D abuts fixed roller, shown at position 42a in Figure 3, and forces finger 3| downwards to position Blb as trigger 30 is further advanced.

Trigger 3!] is in its extreme right position when finger 3| has impelled fastener element l5a onto tape 20. At this position tooth 46 is in the dotted position 45' as seen in Figure 4 at the end of its engaging position with the tooth 41 of gear 50. As gear 50 rotates and tooth 46 reciprocates linearly, the successive teeth 41 slip off engagement with tooth 46 in a fixed pro-determined manner. As soon as the teeth slide out of engagement, spring 48 returns slide bar 44 to the left, to its normal'or initial position. The return'motion of bar 44 and attached trigger 3B is sufficiently rapid so that tooth 46 is in the starting position (shown in solid in Figure 4) before the next tooth 41 of uniformly rotating gear 50 reaches there. The cycle is repeated when tooth 46 is again abutted by a tooth 41.

Trigger 30 is accordingly reciprocated at a proper rate and distance by the disclosed mechanism. The cycle of trigger 30 depends on the pitch between teeth 41 on gear 50, since slide bar 44 moves forward and returns in the time it takes successive teeth 41 to move into engagement position. The advance or forward movement of slide bar 44 depends on the degree of coaction provided between the flat abutting portions of teeth 47 with tooth 46. The return speed of bar 44 and trigger 30 depends on the force of spring 48.

The cyclic duration of the trigger action determines the spacing of fastener elements on tape 20. This duration is made equal to the time taken for successive clamping actions by toothed wheels ll-l2 on the positioned fasteners l5. The peripheral speed of clamping wheels Il-I2 and the speed of gear 50 is controlled in any suitable manner by gearing not shown, but enclosed within housing Ill. The respective fastener impelling and fastener clamping actions are synchronized in a given machine, preferably by intermeshing gearing from a common drive. Although the tape feed is controlled by the cooperating teeth of wheels I I-l 2, a tape feed mechanism independent of the wheels may be applied herein.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the control of the spacing between fastener processed tape sections to determine the individual lengths of the slide fastener sections on the continuous tape 20. In Figure 1 a blank section B is shown on the tape. severing tape 20 at the section B provides the separated slide fastener section. The length of space B determines the length of the free end portions of the individual sections. The successive positions of the blank portions B on the processed tape determines the actual length of the individual sections. In accordance with the invention, means are provided for arresting the fastener element feeding mechanism for a predetermined duration and at pre-determined intervals to accurately determine the formation of the blank areas B.

In the preferred construction, a belt 60 is driven by gearing within housing Ill and pulleys BI and 62 projecting on the side, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. Pulley B2 is the idler pulley which is variably positionable on projection 63 by bolt 64. A connecting rod 65 coacts with belt 60 through roller 66 which rides thereon. A raised section 10 is afiixed to belt 60 which acts as a cam surface to raise connecting rod 65 when the blank section B is to be effected on tape 20. Means 15 are provided with connecting rod 65 to coact with slide bar 44 to arrest the motion thereof at its extreme right displaced position when rod 65 is moved upwards by surface 10.

The arresting means 15 comprises a bar 16 secured to rod 65 and extending upwards in upright 31 adjacent the left end of slide bar 48. Figures 4 and 5 show detail cross-sections through the means 15, showing how bar 16 lies adjacent bar 44, and is vertically slidable. At the lower portion of bar 16 projects section 11 ment I1 is seen in Figure 3. Section 11 is raised when elevated portion of belt 60 reaches roller, '65 and moves into the path of slide 44 at the extreme left side, as shown in dotted line in Figure 3. When projection 11 of arresting means 15 israised it forces slide bar to remain in its rightmost position, slightly beyond the coaction region of tooth 46 with teeth 41, as shown indotted line in Figure 4. Gear 50 accordingly continues to rotate without acting on tooth 46 the cyclic action of which is thus stopped.

When slide bar 44 is held from reciprocation by stop 11, finger 3| of trigger 30 is at position 3H1 within magazine 25. Thus the fasteners IS in the magazine will not move but be stationary while the reciprocation has ceased and trigger 30 is stationary. The tape however continues its normal advance through the machine and clamping gears ll-|2 rotate in their usual manner.- The length of the blank space B is determined by the speed of tape 20 and the duration of the arresting action by means 15. The duration is controlled by the interval during which raised surface Ill coacts with roller 66, which in turn depends on the length of surface 66 and the speed with which it moves.

The control belt 60 is driven by gearing 88- 88-82 within frame II], as seen in Figure 3. The drive member is notshown but may well be the common source for the machine. The time for one revolution of belt 60 is equal to the time which the machine requires to make a required length of slide fastener, including the blank section B. The length of raised surface It on belt 51] is such that its ratio to the belt length equals the ratio of the required length of blank space E to the total length of the slide fastener desired. Thus, after a desired length of tape 20 is secured with spaced fasteners l5, surface 10 on belt 60 reaches roller 68 on rod 65 to raise arresting means 15 and stop the feeding of fasteners to tape 20 until pre-determined blank space B is formed. When surface 10 passes, rod 65 drops by gravity or spring action and the fastener feeding process continues in the manner already described.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

. the finger of said trigger over the fastener elewhich underlies slide bar 44. A face view of element adjacent said tape and'against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said. magazine; a fixed pin arranged to press on the cam surface, of said trigger as the trigger is reciprocated whereby the finger of said trigger in its movement towards the magazine is laterally and vertically displaced.

2. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member having a finger and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger over the fastener element adjacent said tape and against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamp ing thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away fom said magazine; a fixed pin arranged to presson a surface portion of said trigger as the trigger is reciprocated, a spring for mechanically biasing said pivoted trigger member against said pin; the finger of said trigger being moved into said magazine over said one fastener element as said trigger surface portion rides on said pin and being directed downwardly towards the tape by a suitable conformation on said trigger surface portion coacting with said pin to correspondingly impel said one fastener element onto the tape.

3. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements arranged one above the other for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member having a finger and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger over the bottom one of said fastener elements and against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine including a rotatable toothed disc; a fixed pin arranged to press on a surface'portion of said trigger as the trigger is reciprocated, a spring for mechanically biasing said pivoted triggermember against said pin, the finger of said trigger being moved into said magazine over said one fastener element as said trigger surface portion rides on said pin and being directed downwardly towards the tape by a suitable conformation on said trigger. surface portion coacting with said pin to correspondingly impel said one fastener element onto the tape as said slide bar is moved by a tooth of said toothed disc.

4. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements arranged one above the other for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member having a finger and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger over the bottom one of said fastener elements and against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine including a rotatable toothed disc; a fixed pin arranged to press on a surface portion of said trigger as the trigger is reciprocated, a spring for mechanically biasing said pivoted trigger member against said pin, the finger of said trigger being moved into said magazine over said one fastener element as said trigger surface portion rides on said pin and being directed downwardly towards the tape by a suitable conformation on said trigger surface portion coacting with said pin to correspondingly impel said one fastener element onto the tape as said slide bar is moved by a tooth of said toothed disc; and means for cyclically arresting the fastener positioning action of said mechanism comprising a device for holding the reciprocated members against motivation by said toothed disc and said finger in engagement with said magazine to prevent feeding of said fastener elements.

5. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements arranged one above the other for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member having a finger and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger over the bottom one of said fastener elements and against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon;

said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine including a rotatable toothed disc; a fixed pin arranged to press on a surface portion of said trigger as the trigger is reciprocated, a spring for mechanically biasing said pivoted trigger member against said pin, the fingerof said trigger being moved into said magazine over said one fastener element as said trigger surface portion rides on said pin and being directed downwardly towards the tape by a suitable conformation on said trigger surface portion coacting with said pin to correspondingly impel said one fastener element onto the tape as said slide bar is moved by a tooth of said toothed disc; and means for cyclically arresting the fastener positioning action of said mechanism comprising a device for holding the reciprocated members against motivation by said toothed disc and said finger in engagement with said magazine to prevent feeding of said fastener elements, said device having a portion for abutting against an end of said slide bar and a projecting rodfor actuating said portion; and means synchronously operated with said impelling mechanism for successively clamping each straddled fastener element onto the moving tape. 6. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a maga zine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member and mechanism for moving said trigger over one of said fastener elements and against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar towards and away from said magazine; and means for cyclically arresting the fastener positioning action of said mechanism comprising a device for holding the reciprocated members against motivation when the trigger member is in engagement with said magazine and below the row of elements therein to prevent fillther feeding of the elements, said device having a portion for abutting against an end of said slide bar and a projecting rod for actuating said portion; and means synchronously operated with said impelling mechanism for successively clamping each straddled fastener element onto the moving tape.

'1. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member and mechanism for moving said trigger over one of said fastener elements and against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar towards and away from said magazine; and means for cyclically arresting the fastener positioning action of said mechanism comprising a device for holding the reciprocated members against motivation when the trigger member is in engagement with said magazine and below the row of elements therein to prevent further feedmg of the elements, said device having a portion for abutting against an end of said slide bar, and means for controlling said abutting portion into arresting position, whereby blank regions of predetermined width and spacing are provided on said tape; and means synchronously operated with said impelling mechanism for successively clamping each straddled fastener element onto the moving tape.

8. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member having a finger and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger over the fastener element adjacent said tape and against the element towards the tape until thefastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carryin said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine including a rotatable toothed disc, '2, unit secured to said slide bar successively coactable with the teeth of said disc for moving said slide bar and trigger towards said magazine; and means for cyclically arresting the fastener positionin action of said mechanism comprising a device for holding said slide bar and trigger against motivation by said toothed disc and said fingerin engagement with said magazine to prevent feeding of said fastener elements, saiddevice having a portion for abutting against an end of said slide bar.

9..Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member having a finger and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger over the fastener element adjacent said tape and against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally-carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine including a rotatable-toothed disc, a unit securedto said slide bar successively coactable with the teeth of said disc for moving said slide bar and trigger towards said magazine; and means for cyclically arresting the'fastener positioning action of said mechanism comprising a device for holding said slide bar and trigger against motivation by said toothed disc and said finger in engagement with said magazine to prevent feeding of said fastener elements, said device having a portion for abutting against an end of said slide bar and a projecting rod for actuating said portion, and means for controlling said abutting. portion into arresting position including cammed surface operable at a predetermined cyclic speed and coactable with said projecting rod, whereby blank regions of pre-determined width and spacing are provided on said tape.

10. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger member having a finger and mechanism for moving efinger of said trigger over the fastener elemn adjacent said tape and againstthe element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a slide bar member pivotally carrying said trigger member, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine including a rotatable toothed disc, a unit secured to said slide bar successively coactable with the teeth of said disc for moving said slidebar and trigger towards said mega-- zine; and means for cyclically arresting the fastener positioning action of said mechanism comprising a device for holding said slide bar 'and trigger against motivation by said toothed disc and said finger in engagement with said magazine to prevent feeding ofsaid fastener elements, said device having a portion for abutting against an end of said slide bar and a projecting rod for actuating said portion, and means for controlling said abutting portion into arresting position including a belt having a pre-determined projectover the fastener element adjacent said tape and zine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger having a finger, and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger over the fastener element adjacent said tape and against the element toward the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable slide bar pivotally carrying said trigger, a guide member for engaging and vertically displacing the finger of said trigger during a portion of the longitudinal movement of said trigger, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine, including a rotatable toothed disk, the respective teeth of which, as the same rotates, successively displace the slide bar and the trigger carried thereby towards the magazine, and spring means for maintaining the trigger from its displaced position to said first named position as the slide bar is retracted from said magazine. v

12. Mechanism for positioning fastener elements upon a moving tape comprising a magazine containing a row of elements for successive feeding to the tape, means for individually impelling said elements into position on the tape including a trigger having a finger and mechanism for moving the finger of said trigger against the element towards the tape until the fastener element straddles the tape in readiness for clamping thereon; said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable slide bar pivotally carrying said trigger, a guide member for engaging and vertically displacing the finger of said trigger during a. portion of the longitudinal movement'of said trigger, means for reciprocating said slide bar and trigger towards and away from said magazine including a rotatable toothed disk, 9, unit secured to said slide bar, successively coactable with the teeth of said disk for moving said slide bar and trigger towards said magazine, and spring means respectively attached to the slide bar and trigger for retracting the slide bar after movement thereof by the teeth of'said disk, and for retracting the trigger after its displacement by the guide member.

LEON KOPPEL. 

